IRL wants Milwaukee race . . . and state help

The first-year head of the IndyCar Series came to Milwaukee last week to work on an idea that would allow the series to return to the Milwaukee Mile next season.

Randy Bernard, CEO of the Indy Racing League, told the Journal Sentinel he and two possible partners envision a weekend entertainment event surrounding the race, itself, that would bring tourists from outside the immediate area.

Here's the catch: To do so would require a contribution from state government of about $400,000, Bernard said.

“That track’s sitting there not doing anything right now,” Bernard said. “A $400,000 investment for one year is not much because – I know we can make it successful – if we can make it successful the event could go on for many years to come, which just continues to bring revenue on a yearly basis to the state.”

The track has been without a racing promoter since mid-2009, when Wisconsin Motorsports left a sea of debt behind.

Among those left unpaid was the IRL, which was owed about $1 million for its race in May 2009. That the league would even consider returning under those conditions, Bernard said, is a sign of its commitment to making an event at the Mile a success.

Rick Frenette, executive director of the Wisconsin State Fair, said he had spoken with Bernard two or three times and would be interested in a race but had no proposal in hand. The Fair “could provide something in the form of services, but not cash,” he told my colleague Don Walker on Monday

Bernard would not identify the other interested parties but said former promoters Frank and Dominic Giuffre – who had lobbied for state help during their unsuccessful bid for the racing contract last fall – were not among them.

“(Gov. Jim Doyle), even if he’s a lame duck, he can do what’s in the best interest of the state in trying to bring new tourism in,” Bernard said.

“I think we have enough fans there that the fans could help put some pressure on the state. . . . My whole feeling is that if you send them to the fairgrounds it’s going to fall on deaf ears. It needs to go to the governor."